A
Asswipe
Banned
I have a jerk friend who rubs his dangerous 2 bus says it makes his music better I cant hear the difference.
Steenamaroo
...
A summing mixer is analog hardware for turning multitracks into stereo.
Basically, a mixing desk but, designed specifically for this task.
The inputs will be line level instead of mic/instrument.
Digital summing (ProTools bounce or w/e) is a verbatim. It imparts no character or unique 'colour' onto your mix.
With a summing mixer, audio passes through physical hardware, maybe transformers etc. and so it will sound different.
Bottom line, some people think they sound good and like to use em.
Basically, a mixing desk but, designed specifically for this task.
The inputs will be line level instead of mic/instrument.
Digital summing (ProTools bounce or w/e) is a verbatim. It imparts no character or unique 'colour' onto your mix.
With a summing mixer, audio passes through physical hardware, maybe transformers etc. and so it will sound different.
Bottom line, some people think they sound good and like to use em.
Bristol Posse
Okey Dokey
They are also REALLY useful if you want to use out board effects without worrying about latency that you have to deal with if you just use outboard as an inset effect on a track by routing individual tracks out to hardware and back to the DAW
I use mine in combination with 2 outboard channel EQs, 2 channel compressors and a master bus compressor and don't have to deal with trying to get the outboard fx to line up with the in the box sounds as I just put them in line before the summing mixer or after the summing mixer before returning to the DAW in the case of the Master bus compressor, and mix through them
saves a ton of latency and monitoring headaches
I use mine in combination with 2 outboard channel EQs, 2 channel compressors and a master bus compressor and don't have to deal with trying to get the outboard fx to line up with the in the box sounds as I just put them in line before the summing mixer or after the summing mixer before returning to the DAW in the case of the Master bus compressor, and mix through them
saves a ton of latency and monitoring headaches
Last edited:
Ethan Winer
Acoustics Expert
If the DAW software is working correctly, and the summing mixer is working correctly and aims only to sum tracks cleanly, then you won't hear a difference. But some mixers add intentional distortion, which does affect the sound. Of course, you can add distortion easily in DAW software using an inexpensive or freeware plug-in.
--Ethan
wheelema
Boner-obo
I've been curious about this piece of hardware too. Interesting.
wheelema
Boner-obo
Question. If your DAW is outputing sixteen tracks to the summing mixer (and that's every out you've got), what would the summing mixer writing to?
C
chuckduffy
Well-known member
You wouldn't believe it if I told you....
wheelema
Boner-obo
Oh for Heaven's sake of course I would. Two track reel-to-reel, iPod, what?
C
chuckduffy
Well-known member
Sorry. The answer seems so goofy that I couldn't even bring myself to post. I know a couple people with obsessions with this stuff. 16 channels out, analog summing mixer, right back into the daw computer.
wheelema
Boner-obo
Well the RME Micstasy supposedly can do simultaneous in and out so maybe...
C
chuckduffy
Well-known member
that part I don't follow. even my $250 focusrite interface can do simultaneous ins and outs - otherwise I wouldnt be able to use an analog insert...
Bristol Posse
Okey Dokey
You can take the two track output of the summing mixer to what ever you want.
Many people (me included) record back to a new stereo track in the DAW so you will need a way to monitor the return so you can mix effectively but you could record back to any kind of device, 2 track tape, a CD writer, Another computer or whatever
wheelema
Boner-obo
I'm learning.
Mo Facta
Farts of Nature
You would write to two available INPUT channels on your interface. Playback is independent of input, remember?
And you don't necessarily have to hear what is going down as long as you can monitor the output of the summing mixer, although it's probably a better idea to listen to the playback of the final print. In that case, yes, you would need another available pair of output channels.
Cheers
And you don't necessarily have to hear what is going down as long as you can monitor the output of the summing mixer, although it's probably a better idea to listen to the playback of the final print. In that case, yes, you would need another available pair of output channels.
Cheers
A
amelie12
Banned
Basically, a summing mixer and regular mixer do the same thing. 'Regular' mixers would be those that have faders, aux sends, group outputs, etc., which you would need to construct a mix. Summing mixers have risen to prominence of late as many engineers hate the way a DAW mix bus sounds.
D
ddread
mysticman
im liking the topic
pls dont stop now
Hi to every one
and excuse me my manners
i havent been on here for a while
so im picking up the pieces
pls dont stop now
Hi to every one
and excuse me my manners
i havent been on here for a while
so im picking up the pieces
Mo Facta
Farts of Nature
Your question hints to me that you're confusing inputs and outputs. The summing amp does not write to an output. It needs an extra stereo INPUT to print the mix.
However, you do need an extra two channels of DA to monitor the output of the summing mixer returned to your DAW, unless, of course, you can monitor straight from the summing mixer output. Typically for 16 channels of summing you need 18 channels of DA if you're monitoring the mix return from your DAW.
The outputs of the summing mixer go to two available AD inputs on your interface/converters to record the summed mix.
Cheers
RawDepth
New member
Agreed...
Some folks say there is no difference between a DAW in-the-box (itb) mix and a clean analog mix. I disagree with that due to my own experimentation. My (itb) DAW mix sounds worse than the multitrack playback itself. In other words, when I bounce (mix) all tracks to a new stereo track, the new track suddenly sounds degraded and rougher. I can actually hear a difference from a few minutes prior when I was working with separate tracks. However, if I use my analog summing amp to do the mix, it stays mainly unchanged, (with the exception of slight analog coloration which I like.)
gecko zzed
Grumpy Mod
I have not experienced that problem. I've been continually gratified that my ITB rendering emerges exactly as I hear the multi-track playback. I guess I am lucky in not having to think "what on earth has happened here?"
rayc
retroreprobate
It's a humming mixer with sibilance.